Cassadee Pope in Nashville in January 2024.Photo:Tibrina Hobson/Getty
Tibrina Hobson/Getty
Cassadee Popeis opening up about her decision to transition out of thecountrymusic genre and back into rock.
The Voicewinner, 34,spoke candidly toRolling Stonein an interview published on Thursday about why she’s decided to leave Nashville behind in favor of pursuing the alt-rock music she got her start making. She attributed the decision in part to the sexism she has experienced within country and the genre’s lack of widespread progressive politics.
“I realize every genre has problematic people in it. I’m not saying there’s not a frontman in a band who hasn’t been accused of something in rock music. But I guess rock is in my bones more. You’re not completely ostracized and shamed for speaking out,” said the singer, who went country after winningThe Voicein 2012 onBlake Shelton’s team.
Cassadee Pope.Tyler Golden/NBC via Getty
Tyler Golden/NBC via Getty
The lead vocalist of the pop-punk band Hey Monday told the outlet that she’s found herself frustrated with the mechanisms of the country industry as she’s educated herself more on topics like intersectional feminism and racism.
The “Wasting All These Tears” singer continued, “It’s only been the past few months that I’ve let my guard down in therapy and said, ‘Wait, I actually wasn’t OK.’ But I think that kind of comes with the territory of including activism in your life. You’re not going to please everyone.”
Cassadee Pope performs in Nashville in June 2023.Mickey Bernal/Getty
Mickey Bernal/Getty
Eyeing a spring release for her upcoming all-rock fourth studio album, the musician toldRolling Stonethat it has felt liberating to not only feel like she’s “at the right place at the right time” in a genre that better suits her, but able to sing about empowerment and topics like sexual pleasure.
“Leaving a genre where you don’t really hear women singing about that kind of thing, or, God forbid, they wear something scandalous, it just felt really fresh and exciting,” Pope added.
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In late 2022, she teamed up with Nashville artist Levi Hummon to releasethe genre-defying track “RSVP,”which features elements of both country and rock.
At the time, the “Say It First” singer told PEOPLE that she saw the song as marking her departure from country. “I’m moving away from the country space and going more into pop rock where I came from initially,” she said.
“I’m glad that [‘RSVP’] kind of straddles those lines. It’s a great kind of bridge for me between what I did before and where I’m headed with my next solo project.”
Pope also shared therisque, pop-punk-inspired song “Almost There”last July.
Pope said, “‘Almost There’ was written because I am in a very loving, very respectful relationship. We’ve been together for about five and a half years, and I wanted to write a love song, but I also wanted it to be a little naughty and a little edgy. So I came up with the idea to kind of give a love song a dark edge, and I’m really proud of being able to strike that balance.”
source: people.com
